Antique car show benefits veterans

Published: Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 4:11 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 4:11 p.m.

FLETCHER – It took Jerry Phillips four years to turn his 1993 Chevrolet S-10 pickup into the souped-up beauty it is today. With 650 horses under the hood and cherry red paint job, his truck is so special it doesn't leave the garage on a whim.

“This is the first time I've had it out this year,” Phillips said, standing next to his truck at the Hendersonville Antique Car Club show Sunday at Fletcher Community Park. “I never take it out when it's raining. I've only put 1,200 miles on it in four years.”

Club leaders weren't sure they should have a car show on a Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, with church services and all of the weekend's other activities, said club president Bruce Hatfield.

“We were concerned about not attracting the crowds,” he said. “It turns out all of our fears were unfounded, because the weather has been fantastic and so have the crowds.”

About 67 car owners entered their antique vehicles in the club's first show of the season, with all proceeds going to benefit Honor Air and Operation Welcome Home.

Since its founding in 2005, Honor Air has flown over 100,000 World War II veterans to experience their memorial in Washington, D.C. Operation Welcome Home, a veterans' scholarship program, helps support job training for former military personnel at a transitional housing facility in Swannanoa.

Hatfield pointed out the antique car club includes many veterans among its ranks, from all branches of the armed services. The benefit show offered them the chance to honor their comrades in arms, he said, while enjoying their common love for older makes and models.

“I think a lot of us grew up in the ‘50s and ‘60s and those were the muscle car years,” said Hatfield, the proud owner of a 1950 Chevy 3100 pickup truck. “It's something we all connect with and this is a way to relive our past. There's no GPS, no cruise control. They're just fun to drive.”

Rick Redden spent years scanning Ebay and swap meet tables, collecting parts for his 1923 T-bucket Ford, which features a 550-horsepower Chevy engine.

“I get asked all the time, ‘Why in the world would you put a Chevy engine in a Ford?'” Redden smiled. “To make it run! Really, I'm just a Chevrolet man. I've got a whole yard full of them.”

<p>FLETCHER – It took Jerry Phillips four years to turn his 1993 Chevrolet S-10 pickup into the souped-up beauty it is today. With 650 horses under the hood and cherry red paint job, his truck is so special it doesn't leave the garage on a whim.</p><p>“This is the first time I've had it out this year,” Phillips said, standing next to his truck at the Hendersonville Antique Car Club show Sunday at Fletcher Community Park. “I never take it out when it's raining. I've only put 1,200 miles on it in four years.”</p><p>Club leaders weren't sure they should have a car show on a Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, with church services and all of the weekend's other activities, said club president Bruce Hatfield. </p><p>“We were concerned about not attracting the crowds,” he said. “It turns out all of our fears were unfounded, because the weather has been fantastic and so have the crowds.”</p><p>About 67 car owners entered their antique vehicles in the club's first show of the season, with all proceeds going to benefit Honor Air and Operation Welcome Home. </p><p>Since its founding in 2005, Honor Air has flown over 100,000 World War II veterans to experience their memorial in Washington, D.C. Operation Welcome Home, a veterans' scholarship program, helps support job training for former military personnel at a transitional housing facility in Swannanoa.</p><p>Hatfield pointed out the antique car club includes many veterans among its ranks, from all branches of the armed services. The benefit show offered them the chance to honor their comrades in arms, he said, while enjoying their common love for older makes and models.</p><p>“I think a lot of us grew up in the '50s and '60s and those were the muscle car years,” said Hatfield, the proud owner of a 1950 Chevy 3100 pickup truck. “It's something we all connect with and this is a way to relive our past. There's no GPS, no cruise control. They're just fun to drive.”</p><p>Rick Redden spent years scanning Ebay and swap meet tables, collecting parts for his 1923 T-bucket Ford, which features a 550-horsepower Chevy engine. </p><p>“I get asked all the time, 'Why in the world would you put a Chevy engine in a Ford?'” Redden smiled. “To make it run! Really, I'm just a Chevrolet man. I've got a whole yard full of them.”</p><p>Reach Axtell at 694-7860 or than.axtell@blueridgenow.com</p>